Every evening on Phillip Island, just as the sun slips below the horizon and the sky turns dusky pink, one of Australia’s most engaging wildlife rituals begins. It’s called the Little Penguin Parade. As you sit by the beach, you will see tiny figures emerge from the Southern Ocean, wobbling across the sand with surprising determination. These Little Penguins, also known as Fairy Penguins, are famous throughout the world. Yet much of their lives remains wonderfully mysterious.

At first glance, they seem charming and almost comical. But beneath the waves, inside their burrows, and across the open ocean, Little Penguins live complex, fascinating lives that most visitors never get to fully appreciate. Let’s take a moment to pull back the curtain on the secret lives of Phillip Island’s smallest (and arguably cutest) seabirds.

The Wonder of the World’s Smallest Penguins

Little Penguins are the smallest penguin species on Earth. They stand just 30–33 centimetres tall and weigh around one kilogram. What they lack in size, they more than make up for in resilience. Their slate-blue feathers, unique among penguins, help camouflage them in the open ocean by matching the colour of the sea when viewed from above, protecting them from flying predators. This is the reason they have a nickname of “little blue”. Meanwhile their white bellies, when viewed by predators below them, can mask them against white clouds, making them harder to see when they are floating on the surface.  

Despite their delicate appearance, these birds are incredibly tough. They are perfectly adapted to life in the sometimes very wild waters of Bass Strait.

Little Penguins - masters of the open ocean

Most of a Little Penguin’s life is spent at sea. During daylight hours, they are expert hunters, using their flippers like wings to “fly” underwater. On a typical foraging trip, penguins may travel anywhere from 15 to 40 kilometres offshore, depending on food availability.

They can dive to depths of over 60 metres, holding their breath for up to two minutes, though most dives are much shorter. Their main diet consists of small schooling fish such as anchovies, pilchards, and sardines, along with squid and krill. A single penguin can consume hundreds of small fish in just one day.

Interestingly, Little Penguins often fish alone rather than in large groups, relying on their speed, agility, and excellent underwater vision to catch prey.

Coming home after dark – a true wildlife wonder

One of the most magical aspects of Little Penguin behaviour is their nightly return to shore. Penguins wait just out to sea until darkness falls before coming ashore - an instinctive strategy to avoid aerial predators like gulls and raptors.

They often arrive in groups called “rafts,” bobbing in the water together before making a dash for land. Once they feel safe, they burst from the waves and begin their famous Little Penguin Parade, waddling up the beach and through the dunes toward their homes – a true wildlife spectacular that brings thousands of tourists down from Melbourne every day.

But how do these cute little creatures know where to go?

The Little Penguins’ incredible built-in navigation systems

Little Penguins have an extraordinary homing ability. Scientists believe they use a combination of visual landmarks, the position of the sun and stars, Earth’s magnetic field, and even smell to find their way back to the same burrow night after night.

Many penguins return to the exact same nest year after year - even after spending days or even weeks at sea. This remarkable navigation skill ensures they can reunite with their partner and chicks with impressive accuracy.

Burrows, nests, and the domestic Life of Little Penguins

Once ashore, penguins head straight for their burrows - small tunnels dug into sand dunes, under vegetation, or sometimes beneath boardwalks and buildings. Some burrows are naturally formed, while others are painstakingly excavated by penguin couples working together. When damaged, park rangers will often place a small wooden “hut” over the entrance of the burrow to provide more protection and privacy.

Inside the burrow, life is surprisingly busy. Penguins preen, rest, feed their chicks, and communicate a series of distinct calls. Each penguin has a unique vocal signature, allowing mates and chicks to recognise each other even among thousands of neighbours.

Despite their cute reputation, penguins can be quite feisty at home, especially when defending territory or negotiating parental duties.

Love, loyalty, and Little Penguin Relationships

Little Penguins are socially monogamous, often forming long-term pair bonds. Many pairs reunite with the same partner each breeding season, greeting each other with enthusiastic displays and loud calls.

Breeding usually occurs between spring and summer, though timing can vary depending on food supply. Females typically lay two eggs, which both parents take turns incubating over a period of about 35 days.

Once the chicks being to hatch, the real work begins.

Raising Little Penguin chicks: a real team effort

For the first few weeks of life, penguin chicks remain safely tucked inside the burrow. One parent stays home to guard them while the other heads out to sea to fish. Adults regurgitate partially digested fish to feed their hungry offspring - a process that may not sound appealing, but is essential for chick survival.

As the chicks grow, both parents alternate the task of foraging during the day, returning at night with meals. Chicks develop rapidly, growing soft grey down before eventually moulting into waterproof feathers.

At just 8 weeks old, young penguins are ready for the ocean.

A Little Penguins’ first swim: a major milestone

When juvenile penguins finally leave the burrow and head to sea for the first time, it’s a huge, and often very dangerous step. From that moment on, they are completely independent. Parents do not teach them how to hunt or swim; instinct takes over.

Many young penguins won’t return to land for months while they learn to survive at sea. Those that do make it back may not breed for another two to three years, once they’ve reached full maturity.

Preserving the Little Penguins - a delicate balance

Little Penguins face many challenges, both natural and human-made. Climate change affects fish populations, plastic pollution threatens marine life, and habitat loss can disrupt nesting areas. Thankfully, conservation efforts on Phillip Island have helped stabilise and protect one of the largest Little Penguin colonies in the world.

Strict visitor guidelines, protected habitats, and ongoing research ensure these remarkable birds can continue their nightly ritual for generations to come.

Experience the magic of the Little Penguins - the best way

Watching the Little Penguin Parade is unforgettable, but understanding why these tiny birds do what they do makes the experience even more powerful. A Little Penguin private tour allows you to slow down, ask questions, and truly connect with the story unfolding in front of you.

Away from the crowds, with expert local knowledge and thoughtful timing, the Penguin Parade becomes more than a wildlife encounter - it becomes a glimpse into a hidden world that has been playing out on Phillip Island for thousands of years.

The Little Penguins may be small, but their lives are rich, complex, and quietly extraordinary. And each night, just after sunset, they invite us into their secret world - if we know how to look.

Book your Melbourne wildlife tour to see the Little Penguin Parade with Melbourne Touring Company for an unforgettable experience, that will live with you forever.